Europe

Enforcement

ESMA FInes Scope Ratings for Conflict of Interest Breaches

By Editors | 26/03/2024

ESMA said Scope fell short of the requirements under the Credit Rating Agencies Regulation on handling conflicts of interest.

Big Picture

ESMA Publishes Industry Feedback on Adoption of T+1 in Europe

By Mark Johnston | 26/03/2024

The feedback was mixed. ESMA will seek to better understand the suitability, costs and benefits of a shorter settlement cycle and publish a final report by Jan 2025.

Sanctions

EU Announces 35 New Sanctions Over Death of Alexei Navalny

By Editors | 25/03/2024

The targets include the two penal colonies where Navalny was held, members of the judiciary, and officials in the penitentiary system and Russia’s Ministry of Justice.

Sanctions

EU Leaders to Advance Plans to Use Profits from Russia Assets

By Editors | 23/03/2024

Total financial contributions for Ukraine are expected to be around EUR 4.0-4.5 billion this year. Banks are concerned about legal action from Russia.

Market Infrastructure

EU, China Hold Inaugural Meeting of New Working Group

By Mark Johnston | 22/03/2024

Regulators from both sides discussed AML, supervisory cooperation, sustainable finance, capital markets, cross-border data transfers, payments, and CCP equivalence.

Enforcement

London Court Convicts Chinese Woman in Bitcoin Laundering Case

By Mark Johnston | 22/03/2024

A London court has found a 42-year-old woman guilty of laundering bitcoin linked to an alleged $6.3bn investment fraud.

Sanctions

US Pressure Forces Austria’s Raiffeisen to Back Out of Russia Deal

By Editors | 22/03/2024

The deal would have helped to reduce Raiffeisen Bank’s exposure to Russia, but it would have involved a transaction with a sanctioned Russian oligarch.

AML / KYC

UK Gov, Banks Disagree on Suspended Accounts Scheme

By Editors | 21/03/2024

The scheme would allow banks to transfer funds that have been suspended due to criminal suspicions to the government to finance its efforts to crack down on financial crime.

Crypto / Digital Assets

ECB Establishes Seven New Digital Euro Rulebook Workstreams

By Editors | 20/03/2024

The workstreams are aimed at developing rulebook proposals covering UX standards, a certification and approval framework, risk management, and implementation specifications.